Pine Tree Spur-Throat Grasshopper

Fascinating facts about the Pine Tree Spur-Throat Grasshopper

• Three subspecies of this pine-tree grasshopper were named over a 34-year span, showing how early entomologists parsed its variation. The earliest, M. punctulatus punctulatus, was described by Scudder in 1863; Thomas added M. punctulatus griseus in 1872; and Scudder returned in 1897 to name M. punctulatus arboreus. This taxonomic timeline hints at subtle regional forms that persisted long before modern DNA tools, reminding us that even common insects hide hidden lineages.
• Unlike many grasshoppers that cling to grass, this species perches on tree trunks, blending with bark thanks to alternating blackish and grayish bands on its hind femora and a bright red underside. It even comes to lights at night, suggesting a nocturnal habit. It exploits food on both deciduous and coniferous foliage.
• Although once labeled rare, this grasshopper now ranks among the most photographed grasshoppers, thanks to its habit of settling on house porches and wood stoops where cameras linger. Its wide distribution across eastern North America, combined with tree-dwelling behavior, explains the mismatch between scientific rarity and public sightings.
• Adults buzz from July through November across most of their range, but the calendar shifts north-south: in Michigan they vanish by September, in North Carolina they linger until November, and in Florida they can be seen as late as January.

At a glance

About the Pine Tree Spur-Throat Grasshopper

In the warm, golden light of a summer's day, the Pine Tree Spur-Throat Grasshopper embarks on its gentle wanderings, its delicate wings a soft blur as it flits from needle to needle, drinking in the sweet scents of the pine forest. With each languid leap, it seems to embody the very essence of carefree abandon, its slender body weaving an intricate dance through the dappled shade, as if savoring every moment of its ephemeral existence. As it alights upon a sun-kissed branch, its vibrant green hue blends seamlessly into the foliage, a masterful disguise that allows it to thrive in this tranquil, arboreal realm.

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